Karabo Ntanzi
Over 50 athletes, consisting of both able-bodied and residents who use wheelchairs from Helen Bishop Home braved the scorching sun to participate in the 5km Nappy Run contest on 10 October, from Ekhaya Private Hospital in Galeshewe to the circle in front of Pick ‘n Pay on Seochoareng Street and back to Ekhaya. The target for the day was set at 7688 nappies, enough to last at least one month.
Ekhaya collaborated with the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), Brotherhood, MTN and other stakeholders, including individuals in aid for Helen Bishop Home.
Helen Bishop is a home to 65 residents, aged from 1 to 39 years with severe and profound disabilities who use an average of four to six nappies per day.
The Manager, Yvette Molusi, said, “we use about 7 688 nappies monthly. Hence, we approached Ekhaya to assist us by requesting people to either donate a pack of nappies or make a financial contribution. We are grateful for this campaign because we received 2260 nappies and R12 110 donations affording us to buy 4 875 nappies”.
Molusi also explained that the other purpose for this event, was to let residents and community members interact, since most residents did not receive visits from family members. “Most residents are from Galeshewe, some are from other parts of the Province and are placed through Social Workers or the Court,” she explained.
Chief Executive Officer for Ekhaya Private Hospital, Karel Phentela, said, “we were excited when Helen Bishop Home approached us last year to assist with this campaign. We have been collecting nappies for them since then. We intend to put a box at the Kimberley Big Hole near the radio station to make it easier for people to drop their donations, which may
include other necessities for the home.”
Jerry Kale, from Brotherhood, said Kgosietsile Galeshewe Athletics invited them to join the initiative for the benefit of Helen Bishop Home. He indicated that Brotherhood believes in helping vulnerable and needy community members, especially women and children. “We enjoyed the run and we are looking forward to engaging the residents,” added Kale.
Media Relations Manager for the NCPD, Dylan Mashele, said their organisation launched The Nappy Run in 2011 to educate the public about violations of the rights of the country’s marginalised including people with disabilities.
Mashele, who is partially blind, came from Johannesburg to support Helen Bishop Home. Currently, Ekhaya is the only Private Hospital in Galeshewe, providing emergency services, general health care and psychiatric wards.
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